Beaufort County sheriff’s office investigates car explosion

Beaufort County Sheriff’s deputies are looking into the cause of a explosion that damaged a vehicle in the Baywood subdivision.

Deputies responded to 2 Juniper Lane just after 9:30 am Monday after a resident noticed that the windshield of his white Hyundai SUV was cracked. Upon approaching the vehicle, he observed a chemical smell coming from the vehicle.

Inside, the remnants of an exploded soda bottle were found, investigators said. The fire department and sheriff’s deputies responded and determined that there was no additional threat to public safety.

The bottle is believed to have been a homemade device containing various household chemicals. No one was inside the vehicle, nor was anyone present to witness the explosion. The vehicle had been left unlocked, and it is unknown how or when the materials may have been placed inside.

Members of the Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad have responded to collect the material and investigators are working to determine the motive for the incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Beaufort County Dispatch Center at 843-524-2777.